Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-28
OLD TIME CAMPS.
Rec0llectiOns of Veteran Of the Old
Light Infantry.

Amember OF the old Washington Light Infantry
| speaking to STAR reporter OF the National En-
campment and Drill. said: ''The old Infantry wa!
not company to make a few parades each year
| We used to practice the whole art OF the soldier
| by roughing 1t In camp, and learning what to d
| in case of active service in war. The compan!
| was organized in 1896, and it was not many year,
| after before complete set of camp equipment:
was procured-not from the Government, but pur
chased by the members and their friends. Tit
tents were the Sibley round tents, OF which WI
had dozen made to order in Georgetown. Tit
poles were furnished with round table and 6
rack for six muskets, that number Of men living II
| each tent, and bunking in the straw. We always
took our own provisions, those in each tent gen.
i orally clubbing together. Each man took bis
| turn as cOoS and in that way those who after
ward became Old bachelors received valuable les.
| sons for the future conduct OF bachelors hall
well remember some OF our early experience IL
camp.
| CAMP IN THE SMITHSONIAN GROUNDS
an 1914 or 40" continued the veteran, 1--WE en-.
camped In the Smithsonian grounds near about
where the main building now stands, with the
National Blues and company from the navy
yard. We then first learned that more was neceS-
sary to comfort than simply pitching tent The
nrst night we were there the rain came down in
torrents and 1t was not long before we found that
II we did not do something we would have to sleep
In the water. Then 1t was that we found that
trenching around the edge OF the tent was neces-
sary to keep the interior comfortable. There was
than now. Notwithstanding the hard work we
hac nice time at this camp, which lasted for
three days. Revele was sounded at daylight, roll
call at O'Clock QOr IL was in july, guard mount
at O'Clock, dress parade at 10, dinner at noon,
and dress parade and drill in the afternoon.
We had many visitors, particularly OF lady
the frugal meal of the citizen soldier, and joined
In dance upon the green until tattoo, lights
out, sounded at O'Clock. Then we had ScOtt'S
infantry tactics, which were in use until few
years before the wal, and our arms were the old
fiint-loek muzze-loader muskets: You may realize
the difference between the old times and the
present by the fact that to load and fire that
twelve motions were required, while now with the
as asM a Se oa nd only
three motions. We had had some camp expert
ence before this at the great militia encampment
amount of experience we ever obtained was on a
trip to Richmond, in 1874.
AN ADVANCE ON RICHMOND.
"You never heard of the advance Of the
Light Infantry, on Richmond, did your
enquired the old infantryman. "WeIl
he went on, 81 thought when the Union armies
started In 1851 for Richmond, that II they had as
much trouble In reaching that place as we did in
1874 they would be long time in getting there.
We intended to go to Richmond by boat and en-
camp there two days, and for that purpose the
steamer Chesapeake was chartered. This was a
relay steamer which the mail line to Acquia
Creek kept here In case or an emergency. When
We sent our camp equipments to the boat
and marched on board we found
tldt Sue uaU no CdpJalD, engineer or crew
on board. Finally Captain Neavftt, Of Alexandria,
and crew were secured, and some OF the ma
chin1sts, who were members OF the company, VOL
unteered las was the case when the steamers were
seized at the wharf in April, 1861. About 10 O'Clock
On the 18th OF october, the steamer, with over 200
on board, steamed down the river. All on board
were men. There were about sixty In uniform and
the others We're friends of the members. The
steamer had scarcely left the mouth OF the
Potomac when the engine broke down. Had il
not been for the practical mach1nists on board at
once going TO work upon them, We might not have
reached Norfolk. The program was TO stop most
OF the 18th In Norfolk, and then proceed to Rich
mOnd, reaching that place on the morning of the
18th. After the repairs had been made, Norfolk
was reached rather late on the 1Sth and we met
with royal welcome by the military there and
left in the afternoon for the capitol Of the Old
Dominion, all In excellent spirits, and hopeful OF
waking up In Richmond.
AGROUND IN THE JAMES RIVER.
CATER getting into James River the pilot ran us
aground, and there we laid all night, and when
daylight came we saw that we were high and dry.
steamer coming up the stream, which proved to
be the steamer Tom Jefferson, from Baltimore 10
Richmond, was hailed, and she agreed to take the
company TO Its destination. Richmond was finally
reached about 10 O'Clock on the night OF the 18th
Here the Richmond troops and an immense con-
course OF citizens, who had waited patiently all
day, received and escorted us to the market
where dinner had been waiting for US for ten
hours or more. Having enjoyed this we marched
change Hotel, where the tents were soon pitched,
guards set and the command rested. AS soon az
reveille was sounded the next morning, long line
OF cOlOred servants was seen approaching. When
they entered the camp 1t was found that bOunti.
full breakfast had been sent us by the citizens
and about the same time our steamer (the Chesa.
peake) was seen at the wharf. After remaining in
camp TILL the morning OF the 22d, we lert, eS-
c0rted by the Richmond military for Norfolk, ar.
irving there In the evening.
A ROUGH VOYAGE.
1--WE we're to leave for home on Sunday (23d). and
Capt. Mitchell admonished US that a storm was
rising, and he said his boat, the Osceola, which
would leave after our steamer, would get to Wash.
tngtOn first We did not, however, listen to his
warning, but taking on board two ministers, who
were anxious to come here, we left Norfolk about
10 O'Clock. Soon, however, we saw that Capt.
M1tchells words were coming true. Shortly after
passing Old Point terrific nOr'wester struck us,
and those who were not sea-Sick were terribly
frightened. never saw such time. Not over
half dozen seemed to have their senses. The two
ministers during the storm sat down at table In
the cabin and took comfort by reading their bibles
but one OF the men being pitched by the lurching
tween them caused them to jump up with
fright, thinking that their time had come
Finally the mouth Of the RappahanOck was
reached, and there we lay In comparative
safety. but our wood was out and our pro
Visions were running low. We had calculated
on leaving Norfolk to take breakfast at our own
homes Monday morning. After the storm subsidized,
having secured small quantity OF wood, we got
In the Potomac, and the steamer Columbia was
were secured The steamer OSceOia, Capt.
Mitchell, had been seen from hill on the Rappa-
hammock Monday evening, when we were looking
for wood and provisions and when she arrived here
Capt Mitchell not having sighted us, reported
that We had left Norfolk on Sunday morning. As
nothing had been seen OF us he thought the ter
r1nc gale had blown us outside OF the capeS As
We afterward learned this report caused the
greatest CONSERVATION throughout the CITY, and
nave no doubt many OF us were mOurned as lost
We finally reached home on Thursday morning and
when we reached the wharf-roOt OF 18th street
all washington seemed TO be there. Tired and
| Jaded as we were we marched up l4th street to
the avenue and thence to the armOry. being
Justify cheered all the way and reached our fami.
lies four days over Que.
OTHER ENCAMPMENTa
"Thts trip came near breaking US up, but we
hung together and had many other pleasant en-.
| campments. On the occasion Of the laying of the
cornerstone OF the Washington Monument there
were number OF encampments in and around the
| city, some OF the Baltimore companies Joining
with our home companies In Judiciary SOuare
| and PARROTS Woods, near KalOrama. We had as
| our guests for two or three days the Lancaster
| Pa.) Fencibles, the Boston Light Guard and the
| Chesapeake Rifleman, OF Baltimore and enter.
street and Pennsylvania avenue. by the way IN
the Olden time the hotels were not as well patrO.
nZed by the military as OF late years Our custom
when we entertained company, was to rent q
building, provide cots, furnish the provision and
cooks, and, In fact supply all their wants while
! here. In summer we have often entertained vtsi.
| tors in camp. On one Of our trips to Richmond we
were entertained In this style. Down TO the wal
IT was the custom OF the Infantry to go into camp
generally for three days, about the 4th OF July
| and among these encampmentS recall are those
al Freder1ckSburg, Va, Winchester, Va, one near
the Old Carroll Place, southeast OF the Capitol:
| one at White Knobs, near GlenwOOd Capt
Il aNs nn0 nj UiaIr.